Każdy czytelnik się liczy. Innowacje w budowaniu biblioteki przyjaznej, włączającej i otwartej na różnorodność
▶Summary
The aim of the project was to increase the accessibility of public libraries for adults with special needs through the exchange of experiences, identification of good practices, and the developmen...
▶Objectives
The aim of the project was to increase the accessibility of public libraries for adults with special needs through the exchange of experiences, identification of good practices, and the development of staff competences. The goal was for the partner institutions in Wrocław, Lille, and Košice to become more open, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of their users. The project was designed to provide participants with practical knowledge and inspiration to implement new solutions in their daily work, as well as to develop a tool for diagnosing the accessibility of events in cultural institutions. Through study visits, workshops, and international cooperation, it was possible to explore various approaches to adult education, strengthen language and intercultural competences, and deepen relationships between partners. Another important goal was the creation of a publication featuring good practices, intended as a tool to support other institutions in improving accessibility and promoting social inclusion.
▶Activities
As part of the project, coordination activities were carried out: a project team was established at the Municipal Public Library in Wrocław and with partner institutions; several online meetings were held (e.g. 04.04.24, 17.06.24, 14.01.25, 27.02.25, 20 and 30.06.2025); partnership agreements were signed, budgets and schedules were agreed upon, and ongoing evaluation was conducted (surveys, evaluation meetings). Study visit in Wrocław (10–14.09.24): visits to library branches and partner institutions, accessibility-focused workshops, launch of the accessibility diagnostic tool, presentation of the exhibition "Life in Old Wrocław". Study visit in Lille (8–12.10.24): visits to branches and partner institutions, workshops with marginalized groups, participation in "Night of Libraries", presentation of the exhibition. Study visit in Košice (3–7.03.25): visits to branches and institutions, workshops and presentations with NGOs, collaborative work on the tool and publication, exhibition presentation. Work on the publication: template preparation, article collection, editing, proofreading, translation, creation of the publication, and distribution via EPALE, institutional websites, email, and other channels. Project results were shared.
▶Impact
As part of the project, the competences of 21 library staff members from Poland, France, and Slovakia were strengthened in the fields of adult education for people with special needs, accessibility, international cooperation, and language skills. Three study visits were carried out (Wrocław, Lille, Košice), each including workshops, observations, and meetings (over 72 hours of activities). Each institution implemented at least one solution learned during the visits (e.g. collection labeling, reading challenges for people with language difficulties, activities for people on the autism spectrum). A bilingual Polish-English online publication was created, featuring descriptions of good practices from the three countries and a tool for diagnosing accessibility. The results are being disseminated through institutional websites, the EPALE platform, social media, and professional events. The project strengthened international cooperation, improved the accessibility of library services, and inspired partners to undertake further initiatives and new projects.